A few years ago I had the opportunity to attend a Clearwater meeting w one of our Great Water Protectors here in the Hudson Valley – Pete Seeger. He asked us to write a song that everybody could sing.
I have lived here my entire life. I know this valley, its waters, its lands, its animals and its people.
Traveling home down the winding Rt 9, the old narrow road snaked thru the mountains and gazed down at the Hudson River, I wrote this song. This song is for Pete Seeger and the Water Protectors, b/c our job is not now, nor will it ever be over.
Back to the River
let’s go back to the river so we can swim
let’s go back to the river so we can drink
let’s go back to the river so we can sail away on the Clearwater on a clear day
back to our valley and our trees
back to the organic gardens and the bees
back to the healthy land under our feet
the land that was made for you and me
let’s give the mountain back to the bear
let’s give the clean back to the air
let’s give the fresh back to water in our streams
the streams that were made for you and me
let’s give life back to the land
let’s give work back to our hands
let’s give hope back to the words that we sing
the songs that are sung by you and me
let’s put love back in our speech
let’s put promise back in our reach
we will live in harmony
with this land that was made for you and me
Adrienne Gomez 